Each year, the women of Chi Omega spend a week donating innumerable time and funds to a series of events, we call “Wish Week.” Every event we sponsor during this week helps raise money and awareness for Make-A-Wish Mid-South. Make-A-Wish is an organization that grants wishes to children between the ages of 2 ½ to 18 who have life-threatening medical conditions. The mission of the foundation is to provide these children with joy, hope, and renewed strength to help them fight complications that most do not yet understand. Make-A-Wish is a national philanthropy, but Chi Omega at the University of Arkansas helps grant wishes to children that live in the Mid-South region.

Chi Omega members, at the University of Arkansas, endeavor to show our college career is about more than a student’s individual gain. Through our unfaltering efforts, Chi Omega has demonstrated that generosity and community involvement are instrumental in developing a worthwhile legacy. This year, we will unite the entire Greek Community at the University of Arkansas and the community of Fayetteville behind our philanthropy. Wish Week builds on the extensive effort of our family and friends in the past to partner with us in making wishes come true. It is one way that we show our love and appreciation for our great state and the children that grow up here, because they are worth it.

Recently, the members of Chi Omega have had the privilege of granting wishes made possible by donations like yours. Our legacy includes sending a girl to meet her favorite celebrity, a boy on a Disney Cruise, and another child to the beach. Today, the average cost of a wish in Arkansas is $8,000. This amount covers the cost of their wish, which can include almost anything within their imagination. Anna Rohweder, former Chi Omega philanthropy director and childhood wish kid, describes her wish experience saying:

“Fifteen years ago, I was fighting childhood cancer. Those days were long and difficult especially for a seven-year-old child. Make-A-Wish was the bright light in the middle of this darkness. My wish to go on the Disney Cruise Line was an incredible experience for me and my family. My wish gave me a chance to escape treatments, hospital stays, surgeries and doctor appointments for a few days. It also gave me the opportunity to just be a kid again. To make it even more special, a Chi Omega chapter sponsored my wish and hosted my send-off party. Now as a Chi Omega Psi Alumna, I’m grateful to have had the chance to give strength, hope and joy to other families through the power of a wish.”

Over the past few years, we have made it our goal to give the power of a wish to Arkansas children. However, there are currently around 150 children in Arkansas waiting to have their wish granted. This year we are striving to grant as many wishes as we can with a total fundraising goal of $75,000. Your help with our Wish Week will help raise money for such an amazing cause.

We will not be able to reach our goal by simply hosting events. The ladies of Chi Omega need your help! We are asking you to be part of this worthwhile cause and to help us reach our goal by simply making a tax-deductible contribution to Make-A-Wish Mid-South. An investment in a wish is an investment in the healing journey of a child. Any amount is greatly appreciated. All of us here at Chi Omega, along with children from all across the state, would like to thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration to help us in our efforts to grant the wishes of children across Arkansas and reach our goal.